Symbol printing mechanism for accounting machines



July 29; 1941. w. A. ANDERSON 2,251,099

SYMBOL PRINTING MECHANISM FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed June 29, 1939 5Sheets-Sheet 1 VENTOR WA]. A. ANDERSON BY (W ATTORNEY FIG.7

July 29, 1941. w. A. ANDERSON 2,251,099 I SYMBOL PRINTING MECHANISM FORACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed June 29, 1959 5 Sheebs-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WALTERA. ANDERSON ATTORNEY July 29, 1941. w. A. ANDERSON SYMBOL PRINTINGMEQHANISM FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed June 29, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IINVENTOR WALTER A. ANDERSON BY' [67 ATTORNEY July 29, 1941. w. A.ANDERSON SYMBOL PRINTING MECHANISM FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed June29, 1939.. 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR WALTER A. ANDERSON BY K TT 'RNEYJuly 29, 1941. w. A. ANDERSON SYMBOL PRINTING MECHANISM FOR ACCOUNTINGMACHINES Filed June 29, 19 39 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR WALTER A.ANDERSON ATTQRNEY Patented July 29, 1941 SYlWBOL PRINTING MECHANISM FORACCOUNTING llIACHINES Walter A. Anderson, Bridgeport, Conn, assignor toUnderwood Elliott Fisher Company, New York, N. Y., a. corporation ofDelaware Application June 29, 1939, Serial No. 281,775

1 Claim. (01. 235-60) his invention relates to accounting machines, andmore particularly to symbol printing mechanism therein. The presentstructure is shown applied to a machine of the type disclosed in UnitedStates Patents Nos. 1,198,487, 1,583,102, 1,934,747, 1,946,565 and1,965,611.

In machines of this type, it is customary to print distinctive symbolsdesignating the character of the operation performed. Heretofore,several independent linkages have been required to accomplish theselection of the symbols designating the particular machine operations,

It is an object of the present invention to provide a compact, simpleand efiective means, comprised of a minimum number of parts, forcontrolling the selection and printing of the appropriate symbol of agroup, in accordance with the character of the machine operation beingperformed.

With this and incidental objects in view, the invention consists incertain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, theessential elements of which are set forth in the appended claim, and apreferred embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference tothe drawings which accompany and form part of the specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of an accounting machine embodying thepresent invention,

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic View of the keyboard,

Figure 3 is a right side elevation of the symbol printing mechanism innormal position,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but with the parts shown inposition to print a debit total symbol,

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 4, but with the parts shown inposition to print a subtract symbol,

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 5, but with the parts shown inposition to print a credit total symbol, and

Figure 7 is a detail view of the upper portion of the symbol type bar.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION Machines of the character disclosed herein have akeyboard 1 (Figure 1) and a traveling paper carriage 2, provided with aroller platen 3, around which paper sheets are passed for receivingimpressions from printing type 4. The machine may be driven by anelectric motor 5 or by a crank (not shown).

The present mechanism is provided with a total key 6 (Figures 2, 3 and4), a sub-total key 1 (Figures 2 and 3) and a subtract key 8 (Figures 2and 5). When a debit or credit sub-total, debit or credit total, orsubtraction operation is performed, it is desired that some indicationbe printed on the paper beside the printed numbers to properly designatetheir character and make them distinguishable one from the other. Toeffect this, the machine is provided with a type bar ll (Figure '7),that is mounted for vertical reciprocation, and which carries type l2,13, I4 and 15 to indicate these different operations.

The details of construction and operation of type bar H are similar tothe symbol type bar 420 in Patent No, 1,946,505. For the purposes of thepresent disclosure, it is sufficient to remember that the type bar ispulled upwardly by spring tension at the beginning of an operation, andis lowered to its normal position, shown in Figure 3, at the end of anoperation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION INDEX OF ToPIcs Printing the debit sub-totalsymbol,

. Printing the debit total symbol.

. Printing the subtract symbol.

. Printing the credit total symbol.

. Printing the credit sub-total symbol.

1. Printing the sub-total symbol During ordinary listing operations ofthe machine, and during operations with sub-total key I depressed, thetype bar I I rises until a shoulder IS on its lower end engages asurface I! on a lever I8, pivoted at 2| on a lever 22, in turn pivotedat 20, This rise is sufficient to place type I2 in alignment with theprinting line of platen 3.

To impel the type against the work sheet, a hammer mechanism similar tothat disclosed in Patent No. 1,946,505 is provided. Briefly, the hammermechanism for the symbol type includes a hammer '23 pivoted on a rod 24and impelled toward the type by a spring 25. When the hammer is releasedby the customary hammer catch 26, it is free to strike the type, unlessa latch 21, pivoted on a rod 28, is lowered so that a surface 3| thereofis in the path of a stud 32, secured to hammer 23, in which event hammer23 is restrained irom effecting an impression during that operation.Movement of latch 21 is effected by a spring 33, under control ofrearward and forward movement of a rod 3 1. In the present mechanism itis desirable to have latch 2'! allow printing of the sub-total symbolduring sub-total operations and to prevent the printing of the subtotalsymbol during accumulating operations.

Referring to Figure 3, a stud 35 on the stem of the sub-total key 1 liesabove the horizontal arm of a bell crank 36, pivoted at 3?. A slide 38is connected to bell crank 36 and is guided for forward and rearwardmovement in the machine. The rear end of slide 38, through the tensionof a. spring li, bears against a stud 42 secured to a frame pivoted at44. When the sub-total key is depressed, slide 33 is moved forward inthe machine to a position where it does not prevent forward movement offrame 53. This construction is fully disclosed in Patent No. 1,934,747.

Although slide 33 may be moved forwardly from stud 42, frame 53 willswing forward under the tension of a spring 45, inferior to spring 41,only in the event that a blank cycle has just been taken and no amountkeys have been indexed prior to the depression of the sub-total key.This mechanism for enforcing a blank cycle before taking a total and somoving frame 43 is fully disclosed in Patent No. 1,583,102.

A lever 48 is pivoted at 4'1, and has its upper end turned over at 28 tocooperate with a recess 5| in latch 21. By this construction, when ablank cycle has just been taken and the subtotal key is depressed, lever45 is moved to the position shown in Figure 4, where its upper end lieswithin recess 51 to hold latch 21 in its upper ineffective position.When held in this position, hammer 23 may fire at the appropriate timeto print the sub-total symbol.

During accumulating operations, however, since the sub-total key 7 isnot depressed, lever 55 remains in the position shown in Figure 3, withits upper end out of recess 5!. Hence, as rod 34 is moved away fromlatch 27, the latch is free to rock counter-clockwise about pivot 28 toplace surface 3! in the path of stud 32, and prevent the printing of thesub-total symbol opposite the listed item. A notch 52 is provided in theforward edge of type bar I i to permit such counter-clockwise movementof latch 27 when the type bar is raised to sub-total symbol position.

2. Printing the debit total symboZ The total key 6 is used to conditionthe machine for total operations, and is also used to condition t fect anon-add operation, it is desirable to prevent the printing of thissymbol.

When total key 5 is depressed to the position shown in Figure 4, a plate53, secured to the key and having an offset flange 54 lying above an arm55 pivoted on a rod 55, rocks the arm against the tension of a spring51, connected to an arm 58, pivoted at 5| to arm 55. The lower end ofarm 53 is pivoted at 62 to the upper end of lever I 8 above the pivot21, and the movement just described pivots lever it slightlycounter-clockwise about pivot 2i, as shown in Figure 4.

This swinging movement of lever 18 is just sufficient to place a surface63 on lever l8 in the path of shoulder it. Now, upon operation of themachine, type bar I] rises to its position shown in Figure 4, where thetotal symbol lies in printing position. As shown in Figure 3, flange 54also overlies the horizontal arm of bell crank 36, so that depression ofkey 6 also rocks the bell crank to move slide 38 forward the same aswhen sub-total key 1' is depressed.

As before stated, a blank cycle is always taken before the printing of atotal. Consequently, when key 6 is depressed for total taking, the upperend of lever 46 engages notch 5|, holding latch 27 in its upperineffective position. However, when total key 6 is depressed to effect anonadd operation, since an amount is at that time indexed on thekeyboard, lever 46 and frame 43 remain in the position shown in Figure3, where lever 46 cannot prevent the movement of latch 21 to itseffective position. The printing of the debit total symbol during thisoperation is therei'ore prevented.

It might be noted that notch 52 in type bar H is of sufficient length topermit counter-clockwise movement of latch 21 when the type bar rises topresent the debit total symbol IS in alignment with the printing line ofthe platen.

3. Printing the subtract symbol During accumulating operations involvingsubtraction, it is desirable to have an appropriate minus symbol printedbeside the amount. Referring to Figure 5, the stem of subtraction key 23carries a plate 54 having a pin 55 overlying a forwardly extending armof a lever B! pivoted on a stud 613. A spring H, connected between plate84 and the machine frame, normally tensions key 8 upwardly, and a springl8, connected between a depending arm of lever 67 and the machine frame,normally tensions the lever clockwise about stud 68 so that arm 65 restsagainst pin 55. A slide 12 is pivoted at its forward end on a stud '13on the depending arm of lever 67, and has a slot 14 adjacent its rearend embracing a pin fixed in a downwardly extending arm of lever 22. Aspring 76, connected between slide 72 and lever 22, normally tensionsthe pin against the rear end of the slot.

When an amount is to be subtracted, depression of key 8 rocks lever 67,which in turn thrusts slide 12 rearwardly, moving the rear end of slot74 away from pin 75 and tensioning lever 22 upwardly, as shown in Figure5. As fully disclosed in Patent No. 1,965,611, this conditions thetotalizer for a subtraction cycle, during which, lever 22 swingscounter-clockwise about pivot 20 under the tension of spring 76. Thisamount of movement of lever 22 is just sufficient to pivot lever [Bclockwise about pivot 52 to place a surface 11 on lever I8 in the pathof shoulder I5. Now, upon operation of the machine, type bar i l risesto its position shown in Figure 5, where the subtract symbol lies inprinting position.

During a subtracting operation, since an amount is indexed on thekeyboard, lever 46 remains inineffective position with its upper end outof recess 5!, but, it will be noted, with reference to Figure 5, thatthe distance of upward movement of type bar I i, in this operation, issufficient to bring notch 52 above the plane of the lower end of latch21, so that a pin in the lower end of the latch rests against theforward edge of type bar H, and thereby holds the latch in its upper,ineffective position. Hence, hammer 23 is free to fire and print thesubtract symbol.

4. Printing the credit total symbol Frequently, in the course of machineoperations, the totalizer becomes overdrafted so that the total to beprinted is of a negative or credit character. In such instances it isdesirable to have a CR symbol printed beside such a total to distinguishit from a debit total.

This machine is equipped with mechanism similar to that disclosed inPatent No. 1,934,747, to automatically condition the machine, during ablank cycle, for the taking of a negative total during the next cycle.Briefly, this mechanism includes a ball 18 (Figure 6) carrying an arm8!, operable when the totalizer is overdrafted to strike a square lug 82fixed on slide 12 and move the slide to the rear during the blank cyclepreceding the total cycle. Parts 18, 8| and 82 correspond to parts I051,I062 and I061, disclosed in Patent No. 1,934,747.

When the slide 12 is so moved, spring 16 is tensioned, ready to pulllever 22 counter-clockwise about pivot 20, in identically the samemanner as described above in connection with the printing of a subtractsymbol. However, this being a total operation, before cycling themachine to take the total, total key 6 is depressed, and this results inthe pivoting of lever l8 counterclockwise about pivot 2| to the positionshown in Figure 4.

Now, upon operation of the machine to take the total, as lever 22 swingscounter-clockwise about pivot 20 under tension of spring 16, lever I8 isswung further counter-clockwise about pivot 62. This swinging movementof lever I8 is sufficient to withdraw surface 11 from the path ofshoulder [6, allowing type bar I I to rise until the shoulder strikesthe lower edge of lever 22, as shown in Figure 6.

In this position, the CR symbol is in printing position, and since theupper end of lever 46 engages the recess 5! of latch 21, hammer 23 isfree to fire and print the symbol.

Upon the completion of each symbol printing operation, the parts are, ofcourse, restored to normal position in readiness for the next operation.

5. Printing the credit sub-total symbol In printing a credit sub-totalsymbol, the machine operates in the same manner as explained inconnection with the printing of a debit subtotal symbol, except that theparts 18, 8!, 82 and I2 operate as just described in connection with theprinting of a credit total, to move lever l8 two steps. This allows thetype bar to rise the same extent as during a subtraction operation,placing the subtract symbol type 14 at the printing point.

To distinguish credit sub-totals from subtracted items, the customarytwo-colored ribbon is used, one color being used for the printing ofboth added and subtracted items, and the other color being used to printall totals and sub-totals. The means for controlling shifting of theribbon for printing in one color or the other may be similar to thatdisclosed in Patent No. 1,198,487.

It is apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a simple andeffective means to select and print the appropriate symbol of a group,and that by utilizing a compound movement for the lever that controlsthe rise of the symbol printing type bar, have considerably reduced thenumber of parts in the structure with resultant economy in manufacture.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirablyadapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understoodthat it is not intended toconfine the invention to the one form ofembodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment invarious forms, all coming within the scope of the claim which follows.

What is claimed is:

In a machine of the class described having a difierentially adjustablesymbol printing type bar carrying a series of type, the combination ofmeans operating in accordance with the character of the machineoperation being performed, for determining the position to which thetype bar is to be adjusted, said means comprising a lever having aseries of stop shoulders for cooperation with said type bar and beingconnected at one point to certain machine function control mechanism,and being connected at another point to certain other machine functioncontrol mechanism, said first control mechanism being operable to shiftthe lever to one predetermined position, said second control mechanismbeing operable to shift the lever to a second predetermined position,and said first and second control mechanisms being jointly operable toshift said lever to a third predetermined position.

WALTER. A. ANDERSON.

